My kids bought me a Nesco/American Harvest model 4-5 yrs ago and it has worked perfectly for everything ranging from fruit, chili, jerky, dog treats (dried game trim) to deydrated yogurt. I'm sure it was under $100.
You can spend a lot more but I'm not sure it's necessary. Like most things, you can wander down a rabbit hole of details if you want but in this case you are just heating/drying stuff which the natives did for years without electricity and digital controls.
